The Eiger Express is the gondola that opened the quick route to Jungfraujoch. It runs from the Grindelwald Terminal station, a short train ride from Interlaken, up to the Eigergletscher station at about 2,320 metres, covering 6,483 metres of cable in around fifteen minutes. It is a tricable system, with three support cables and one haulage cable, which Jungfrau Railways says makes it more stable and less sensitive to wind than older lifts. There are 44 cabins of 26 seats each, with a capacity of 2,200 passengers an hour, and the ride passes close to the north face of the Eiger, one of the great faces of the Alps. At Eigergletscher you can connect to the Jungfrau Railway for Jungfraujoch, or walk the trails around the glacier station, or simply ride up and down for the view. A direct transfer at Eigergletscher makes the journey to Jungfraujoch much shorter than the older route via Kleine Scheidegg.
The gondola is two things
A piece of transport and an attraction in its own right. As transport it cuts the journey to Jungfraujoch to about fifty minutes from Grindelwald Terminal. As an attraction it is a cheaper way to get high in the mountains than the full Jungfraujoch ticket, since you can ride only to Eigergletscher and walk from there.
Trails around the glacier station lead towards Alpiglen and Kleine Scheidegg, and the area has views of the Eiger north face, the Mönch and the Jungfrau. The Grindelwald Terminal is also a transport hub, with a car park, shops and restaurants and a station on the Bernese Oberland Railway line from Interlaken Ost.
In November the details matter. The page of Jungfrau Railways itself does not list that closure, so confirm the live operating status before you travel, and ask which approach to Jungfraujoch is available while the gondola is paused. After it reopens, the gondola runs through the winter as the main route up for skiers and sightseers.
The best plan is to ride early on a clear day, take a seat by the window on the side facing the Eiger, and walk the short trails at the top if the surface is safe. At Eigergletscher the weather can be much colder and windier than in the valley, so dress for it. If your plan is Jungfraujoch, reserve a seat on the Jungfrau Railway for the connection. If you only want the gondola ride and the glacier-station views, check whether your rail pass includes it, since passes often cover or discount it.
What to expect
The experience
A fifteen-minute tricable gondola ride from Grindelwald Terminal to Eigergletscher, with trails and views of the Eiger north face at the top.
Best time
A clear morning, sitting on the side of the cabin that faces the Eiger.
How long
Two to four hours for a ride and a short walk at the top, or the better part of a day with Jungfraujoch.
Tips
It is reported to be in revision from 9 to 20 November, so confirm the live status. Dress for a colder, windier station at the top.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Anyone heading to Jungfraujoch, and visitors who want the Eiger view without the full summit ticket.
- Families
- Children like the fast, smooth cabins; the glacier-station trails are short and easy in dry weather.
- Couples
- Ride up for the Eiger north face view and walk the first stretch of trail together.
- Pair with
- Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald village and a hike towards Kleine Scheidegg.
- Time needed
- Half a day, or a full day with Jungfraujoch.
Good questions
How long does the Eiger Express take?+
About fifteen minutes from Grindelwald Terminal to Eigergletscher. It cuts the trip to Jungfraujoch to roughly fifty minutes from Grindelwald.
Is the Eiger Express open in November?+
A third-party lift calendar lists a revision closure from 9 to 20 November 2026, with normal running before and after. Check the live status on the Jungfrau Railways site.
Where does it start?+
At Grindelwald Terminal, which has a station on the railway line from Interlaken Ost and a large car park.
What can I do at the top without going to Jungfraujoch?+
Eigergletscher has trails and views of the Eiger north face, the Mönch and the Jungfrau, and you can walk towards Kleine Scheidegg in suitable conditions.
Do rail passes cover it?+
Passes such as the Jungfrau Travel Pass often cover or discount the lifts in the region. Check the terms of your pass, and note that the winter pass starts on 1 December 2026.
